Up and down the Alps – Dolomites by road bike
Road Cycling Collection by Andrea Alessandrini *Travelsbeer
11
Tours
40:44 h
394 mi
60,500 ft
The Dolomites are so beautiful that they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. It’s difficult to choose just one route through these mountains – the Dolomites offer so many extraordinary trekking and cycling routes.
In this Collection, I propose an 11-day road bike tour that tackles at least one Dolomite pass each day – so make sure you train beforehand.
This route gets youup close and personal with the most famous peaks of the Dolomites: Pelmo, Civetta, Nuvolau, Marmolada, Sella, Sassolungo... You’ll be awestruck by the mountains here.
On the way, you’ll cross the route of the Alta Via 1 delle Dolomiti. If you have the chance, it’s worth extending your trip by a few days to explore the wonderful hiking routes on foot.
You’ll pass through places that played an important role in history, such as Lagazuoi and Comelico, which were the scenes of bloody battles during the Great War. You'll also explore famous valleys, including Val di Fiemme, Val Pusteria and Val Badia. The small characteristic villages of Corvara, San Candido, Selva di val Gardena and Cortina d'Ampezzo also lie en route, along with plenty of places where you can enjoy the traditional local cuisine.
These 11 days take you deep into different cultures, discovering three areas, which speak different languages.
The climbs range in difficulty. The most challenging are the Fedaia Pass, the Giau Pass and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which you’ll tackle on the last day, to end the Tour on a high note.
I recommend setting off in bikepacking mode and riding as light as possible. The distances are not long, but the climbs are challenging every day. At the end of each stage, you'll find hotels and flats – remember to book well in advance. You’ll find small villages on each stage for refreshments.
Belluno, the starting town, is easily reached by train, and you can take your bike on board. From Cortina d'Ampezzo at the finish, you can return home thanks to the Bus'n bike service, which allows you to take your bike on the bus.
You can tackle this adventure from May to the end of September, when all the passes are accessible.
To tackle these climbs, bring technical clothing, including a windproof for the long, cold descents. Remember to charge your lights too as they’re very useful in the (few) tunnels en route.
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: September 6, 2023
Tours
- 04:3539.7 mi8.7 mph7,075 ft3,625 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
You can start this splendid tour of the Dolomites by racing bike from Belluno. This capital of the Veneto province, in fact, is easily accessible thanks to its railway station. Furthermore, Belluno is also the arrival point of the famous Alta Via 1 of the Dolomites: the town is, in fact, at the base…
- 04:5144.5 mi9.2 mph7,150 ft6,900 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
This second day is probably more difficult than the first: the Dolomites, however, amply reward you with their beauty.
You don't have to wait long to start pedaling uphill: the Rolle pass, in fact, connects San Martino di Castrozza with the Val di Fiemme. The climb that leads to the Rolle pass can be…
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- 02:5436.3 mi12.5 mph3,375 ft6,400 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The first step you find today is the famous Costalunga. From Carezza you can reach the pass, located at an altitude of 1,753 metres, quite easily: in fact, the Costalunga pass does not boast very demanding slopes.
From the top of the pass you can admire the mountain ranges of the Catinaccio and Latemar…
- 03:2526.4 mi7.7 mph6,150 ft3,775 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Today's stage allows you to get to know two of the most beautiful passes in the entire Dolomites.
In fact, from Agordo you start pedaling uphill to the 1,605 meters of Passo Duran. The slopes are often difficult: try to save your leg as much as possible. Downhill you enter the Val di Zoldo.
As soon as…
- 03:3331.8 mi9.0 mph5,825 ft5,150 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The start of the fifth stage is not the easiest. The first roughness of the day that awaits you, in fact, is the very famous Giau pass. From the Cadore valley, the slopes that lead to the 2,236-metre pass are constant at 9%.
Again, your hard work is amply rewarded by the beauty of the mountains. At the…
- 03:2832.0 mi9.2 mph5,700 ft5,725 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Perhaps the best-known itinerary of all the Dolomites awaits you today. Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena: these four passes are in the heart of all cycling lovers.
Starting from Corvara in Badia, you can choose to walk the four passes clockwise or counterclockwise. The most famous direction is the clockwise…
- 03:1933.7 mi10.2 mph4,975 ft5,225 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Today's stage is one of the shortest you will face in this tour of the Dolomites. On the other hand, your legs will find it as one of the hardest and your eyes will appreciate it as one of the most beautiful.
Starting from Corvara you face the Campolongo pass again. In Arabba, however, you don't go towards…
- 02:2329.9 mi12.6 mph2,900 ft6,025 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Today's stage takes you initially to the Sella pass. Starting from Canazei, you will find this climb particularly challenging, as the slopes are grim in various sections.
Once you reach the 2,240m pass you can finally relax, as the day's climbs are over. Downhill you can fully appreciate the beauty of…
- 04:5240.5 mi8.3 mph8,125 ft6,325 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Today you definitely go back up: in fact, there are two passes that await you on this wonderful day.
The first climb of the day is Passo delle Erbe. This pass has little traffic and allows you to admire sensational views of the Puez-Odle natural park. Furthermore, the Passo delle Erbe boasts beautiful…
- 03:2939.3 mi11.3 mph3,750 ft4,375 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
After so much effort, finally today a slightly easier stage awaits you.
Initially you travel through the splendid Pustertal valley: I suggest you stop and visit the two most famous villages of this valley, namely Dobbiaco and San Candido.
Even in today's menu, however, there is a step to overcome. The…
- 03:5539.7 mi10.1 mph5,525 ft4,400 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The last stage is not a simple final catwalk!
Starting from Auronzo di Cadore, you pedal uphill to Lake Misurina: there are a couple of particularly tough kilometers, but the views of the lake will repay you for these efforts.
From the lake, a detour awaits you characterized by a very tough climb that…
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance394 mi
- Duration40:44 h
- Elevation60,500 ft
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